Localization of neuroactive substances in the rat parabigeminal nucleus: an immunohistochemical study

The distribution of neurons and fibres that contain substance P, cholecystokinin-8, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, corticotropin-releasing factor, calcitonin-gene-related peptide, choline acetyltransferase, tyrosine hydroxylase, somatostatin, leucine-enkephalin, and neuropeptide Y was examined in the parabigeminal nucleus of the rat by immunohistochemistry. Many choline acetyltransferase-like immunoreactive or calcitonin-gene-related peptide-like immunoreactive neurons were observed in the dorsal, middle and ventral subdivisions of the parabigeminal nucleus. A few corticotropin-releasing factor-like immunoreactive neurons were also seen in these three subdivisions. The double-immunostaining demonstrated that some choline acetyltransferase-like immunoreactive neurons in the dorsal and ventral subdivisions contained calcitonin-gene-related peptide. Fibres containing cholecystokinin-8, substance P or vasoactive intestinal polypeptide were abundant in the parabigeminal nucleus. Fibres containing cholecystokinin-8 were concentrated in the dorsal and ventral subdivisions, and the lateral margin of the middle subdivision, whereas many fibres containing substance P or vasoactive intestinal polypeptide existed in the lateral half of each subdivision. Fibres containing calcitonin-gene-related peptide or corticotropin-releasing factor were mostly observed around the immunoreactive neurons. Tyrosine hydroxylase-like immunoreactive fibres were scattered in the parabigeminal nucleus.